EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon’s LaMichael James was waiting to bust out with a big run. He got his chance against Missouri State.
The Heisman Trophy finalist last season ran 90 yards for a score in the No. 12 Ducks’ 56-7 victory over the lower-division Bears on Saturday. He ran for a total of 204 yards and had two additional scores.
The breakout came after two games that fell below his rushing average last season.
“I haven’t been frustrated,” he said. “It’s going to happen, you know? Eventually it’s going to happen.”
James’ 90-yard dash was Oregon’s longest run since 1938. He added a 1-yard TD run in the first quarter and a 50-yarder in the third.
The long one was really the result of the Ducks’ offensive line, James insisted, and the path that was cleared by wide receiver Justin Hoffman — who dramatically pushed aside two defenders.
When asked when he knew he was going to score, the speedy running back responded: “When I got into the end zone. Seriously.”
James has 42 career touchdowns, matching the school record set by Derek Loville (1986-89).
Darron Thomas threw for 206 yards and three touchdowns for the Ducks (2-1). Lavasier Tuinei caught scoring passes of 8 and 34 yards, and Oregon sat most of its starters early in the second half.
Missouri State (0-3) scored on its first possession. The Bears were efficient in a nine-play, 84-yard drive that was capped by Chris Douglas’ 3-yard touchdown run to make it 7-0. By halftime, though, the Ducks were ahead 35-7.
Trevor Wooden completed 6-of-13 passes for 91 yards, and ran for 67 yards. He said the issue was keeping up with the bigger, stronger and faster Ducks.
“We showed what we could do at the beginning,” he said.
Before the game, Oregon announced it had received a formal notice of inquiry from the NCAA regarding its use of recruiting services. The investigation was prompted by questions raised over a $25,000 payment Oregon made to Willie Lyles and Houston-based Complete Scouting Services.
Illinois 17, No. 22 Arizona State 14
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Sun Devils (2-1) outgained Illinois 362-239, but Illinois sacked Arizona State’s Brock Osweiler six times and turned one into a touchdown.
No. 23 Texas 49, UCLA 20
PASADENA, Calif. — Case McCoy passed for 168 yards and two touchdowns, D.J. Grant made his first three career touchdown catches, and the Longhorns avenged last season’s 34-12 stunning home loss to UCLA.
Utah 54, BYU 10
PROVO, Utah — John White scored three touchdowns, Jordan Wynn passed for two scores and Utah forced seven BYU turnovers.
The loss snapped the Cougars’ four-game home winning streak and was their first to an in-state opponent since 2005.
California 63, Presbyterian 12
SAN FRANCISCO — Zach Maynard threw for 215 yards and three touchdowns, and California made Jeff Tedford the program’s winningest coach with his 75th win.
